coming up on "early today, " al qaeda chatter. a threat of a new terror attack remains credible. d-day for a-rod. major league baseball is set to roll at high noon. manziel investigation. did texas a&m's johnny football profit from autographs and merchandise. plus, dramac video of an italian bride killed by a hit and run driver in california. closing arguments in the trial of alleged mob boss whitey bulger. and the 2013 nfl season officially under way. "early today" starts right now. >> announcer: this is "early today" for monday, august 5th. very good morning to you. i'm richard lui. americans at home and around the

world remain on high alert after credible terror threats from al qaeda. many u.s. embassies and consulates remain closed. nbc white house correspondent kristen welker has the latest. >> reporter: back from camp david, president obama is getting the latest on the high alert. >> there's been an all of lot of chatter out there. chatter means conversation among terrorists about the planning that's going on. they're reminiscent of what we saw pre-9/11. >> reporter: according to two top u.s. officials, the terror plot could include one large attack or simultaneous attacks around the world, but the intelligence still isn't crystal clear. embassies and consulates from cairo to kabul are bracing themselves. although the streets of kabul were calm today, the embassy was still closed and will remain on high alert. national security officials told nbc news the threat is coming directly from al qaeda in the

arabian peninsula based in yemen. a terror group that's gotten stronger in recent years. >> it's more dangerous because now we have 2.0 or 3.0, which is widely dispersed, a younger generation coming up with new ideas. >> reporter: meanwhile, the department of homeland security is asking for tighter screening of overseas flights. fresh debate about the nsa's surveillance program which intelligence officials say tipped them off about this latest threat. >> it is scary. al qaeda is on the rise and this part of the world and the nsa program is proving it's worth yet again. >> you have to be very careful about how much you represent that any particular program has contributed to our security. >> reporter: kristen welker, nbc news, washington. embattled yankees slugger alex rodriguez may be banned from baseball on the very day he returns to the majors. at my noon, the mlb is expected

to ban a-rod through the 2014 season for his alleged connections to a florida clinic that administered performance-enhancing drugs. despite that, manager joe girardi confirmed a-rod will play his first game tonight. jay gray is live outside the yankees stadium in the bronx. what's the sequence of events we might expect to see today? >> reporter: good morning. outside yankee stadium. relatively quiet as major league baseball gets ready to break its silence. here's the front page of "the post." just go it says. fans ban a-rod, just accept the ban and go. today we'll find out how long he'll have to go for. here's how it's supposed to work out. about noon, as you talked about, the commissioner will announce his decision. there are a dozen to 14 players involved in this, but a-rod will get the most substantial suspension, according to sources that have spoke with nbc sports. most of the players getting 50-game bans. that will remove them from play for the rest of this season.

a-rod through the 2014 season, the reason why major league baseball says is there is evidence he used performance enhancing drugs for three seasons. that's 50 games for each one of those seasons of using those p.e.d.s. and then the extended suspension due to the fact that he allegedly interfered with the investigation that they've been going through here. he does plan to appeal this. there was some talk that the commissioner may use the best interests of the game clause to keep him from playing during any appeal but that does not appear the case. it looks like he'll be on the field tonight with the yankees when they take on the white sox in chicago. live outside yankee stadium, i'm jay gray. back to you. >> we'll be watching that as it happens today. a man is facing a murder charge after a horrific hit and run. a warning. the video is graphic. it happened saturday night on the popular venice beach boardwalk. it goes straight into the crowd. the car does, of pedestrians. an italian woman on her

honeymoon was killed. nearly a dozen others were also injured. >> there were people everywhere. blood everywhere. there was -- it was horrible. >> the damaged vehicle was later found abandoned. the suspect nathan campbell was arrested. he's being held on $1 million bail after fleeing the scene. motive is unknown. closing arguments begin today in the trial of mob boss whitey bulger. bulger is accused of a litany of crimes. those include 19 murders and charges related to rack tee, extortion, money laundering, and weapons. it often took expletive-laced terms. bulger spent 16 years on the run. he was one of the fbi's most wanted until his capture in california in 2011. the 83-year-old declined to take the stand on friday calling his trial a sham. he told the judge, do what you want with me.

jury deliberations are expected to begin on tuesday. the search for a young snowboarder in oregon takes a tragic turn. rescuers have recovered the body of 25-year-old collin backowski. they used chainsaws and other tools to chip away several tons of ice and snow about ten feet deep to reach the colorado man's body on mt. hood. he was traveling with a group of friends on saturday when an ice tunnel collapsed on to him. his friends tried to dig him out but they couldn't break through the ice and snow. they described it as thick as concrete. his father said his son was doing what he loved to do. heavy rain in kansas causing widespread flash flooding over the weekend. an assisted living facility and hundreds of other kansas residents have been evacuated because of stuff like that. the national weather service has issued a flash flood warning through monday morning. and for more on weather now, let's turn to nbc's meteorologist dylan dreyer. good morning to you. >> good morning. more rain is expected in that same area. only actually takes two feet of twurt just take a car and just

carry it. so certainly does sweep it away. but out west, we're actually seeing the opposite. we're not really seeing a lot of rain at all. it's pretty gorgeous. a couple of scattered showers moving into the southwest. but up and down the west coast itself from seattle right down into l.a. it looks like a good amount of sunshine today once we burn off any morning fog. temperatures look hot, though. should get up to 106 in vegas today. 107 in phoenix. actually, the 14th day of temperatures in the triple digit range in phoenix. you can see that's not changing this week. in seattle, though, just want to point this out. i have family up there. they are enjoying some really nice weather. lots of sunshine. temperatures in the 70s and 80s as opposed to usual rainy weather in that area. that's a look at the weather across the country. here's a peek out your window. in seattle, again, 83 degrees today. pendleton, oregon, a little hotter. 89. should be in the 90s from elko, nevada, to bakersfield, california. 106 in yuma, arizona, with a

couple clouds around this afternoon. so the west coast certainly enjoying some really, really nice summer weather. >> it's looking good. just stay away from arizona for now. straight ahead, the fbi let informants commit over 5600 crimes. powerball is over $400 million. plus, a frightening new report about what some car sellers are doing that only a trusted mechanic can save you from. "early today" back in two minutes.

welcome back. making news this morning, just in from japan, a u.s. military helicopter crashed inside a base on the island of okinawa early this morning. there were no civilian casualties. the u.s. military is not yet confirming any crew casual 2350e7s. iran's new president hassan rowhani was officially sworn in on sunday. it marks the end of the eight-year controversial president of mahmoud ahmadinejad.

he vowed his support to syria's embattled leader bashar al assad. johnny manziel is reportedly under investigation by the ncaa. in question, did he profit from autographs and signing memorabilia. ncaa athletes are prohibited from accepting money for a product or sale of service. his eligiblity to play this year could be in jeopardy. governor brown was able to save thousands of commuters from a transit strike. the bay area rapid transit strikeout was avoided when he entered an 11th hour inquiry into the dispute. it hold offs the strike for another seven days. fbi informants were allowed to break the law over 5600 times in 2011. fbi agents reportedly allowed their criminal informants to buy and sell drugs, plot robberies and even bribe government officials. eight months into the 113th congress and the house has passed 22 bills. that's the smallest number of

bills passed on record. even though we've all had trouble with opening a bottle, it's funny, certainly, when there's a little commentary around it. watch this. >> a change-up. it's 2-1. >> oh, come on. >> hey, all that working out and you can't open up a water bottle? >> sir, i think you got the wrong workout program. >> are you kidding? he's still after it? >> oh. you know what i would love? one of the ladies could have just popped it open. >> he was getting the kid to help him do that. now for business and cnbc's bertha coombs. good morning, bertha. >> good morning, richard. two years ago today that s&p cut the u.s.' aaa rating after congress failed to raise the debt ceiling. stocks plunged back then with the dow dropping 634 points in response. here we are two years later and the markets have more than

recovered to record levels with the dow now up 45%. jetblue goes upscale. "the wall street journal" reports the low-cost carrier will unveil premium seats starting today in the front of the cabin that fold down to lie flat beds. jetblue won't say how much those new seats will cost but the seats will likely be on flights between new york and l.a. and san francisco starting next spring. the cbs/time warner cable blackout enters its fourth day with no end in sight to their dispute over programming fees. both companies can't even agree whether they are still in talks. really tough for fans of dexter and ray donovan. back to you. >> yeah, bertha. a lot of folks saying, where are my programs? carfax, the company that supplies vehicle history reports is out saying that hundreds of thousands of hurricane sandy flood-damaged cars are back on the road. their study says unscrupulous sellers are cleaning up the vehicles for resale and although

they may look good, only a trusted mechanic can really tell you if that car is worth buying. and lottery dreamers listen up. powerball is at $400 million. the jackpot is the third largest powerball jackpot in history. the next drawing is wednesday. straight ahead, the nfl is back and the rest of your sports highlights, next.

the traditional pole lantern festival going strong in akeata, japan. it's asking for an abundant harvest. along with some of those lanterns, impressive displays of skill. they balance long bamboo polls holding dozens of lanterns. some weighing more than 100 pounds. for the latest in sports and football is back officially. cowboys/dolphins and the preseason hall of fame game. play of the game was all about arithmetic. what does one times 75 equal? well, it equals a cowboys interception by devaunty holman right there. unstoppable 75 for the score. miami 24-20. you want more nfl? it's coming this thursday. he was the nfl's funny man. art donovan known for hilarious stories. a feisty defensive tackle. he helped the colts before they were even super bowls get world championships in '58 and '59. the baltimore teddy bear and

hall of famer art donovan passing away at the age of 89. tiger not at a major but wins at the bridgestone invitational. evidently a fan, a cuky squirrel, he goes left, then he sees tiger who is off the screen right here and then he decides to go right. so maybe not a fan of tiger after all. nascar's pocono 400 starts with a flash. david gilliland's car hits a wall and catches fire. later, though, danica patrick triggers a four-car bender. jeff burton caught in the slow motion crash. it was all kasey kahne who gets the checkered flag there. the dodgers are unbeatable on the road. a franchise record 14 straight after taking the cubs 1-0. this latest, though, could have cost them the world series. hanley ramirez sacrificed his body over the railing for the out. their key hitter left the game with an injured shoulder. at the world swimming

championships, missy franklin wins her sixth gold medal. the u.s. men's 4 and 100 meter medley relay, they were less successful. kevin cordes, he has a false start and cost them a gold. medley teammate ryan lochte not happy but he does walk away with three golds in spain. and sign this kid up. a ball girl hands a foul ball to the young pirates fan on the side. there you go. but he throws it back. he's got good extension. good throwing arm. the ball girl gave it back to him again, by the way, and he kept it. early today sports brought to you by just for men mustache and beard. keep your edge. entertainment news is next for you. and wait until we tell you who is being considered as the next batman. plus, washington and walberg rule at the movies. you're watching "early today."

good morning. welcome back. a beautiful shot of the st. louis arch where it is sunny right now. gorgeous morning out that way. but rain is moving in. much unwanted rain, especially in areas in southern missouri and northern arkansas. out west, though, we're starting off with pretty comfortable temperatures. almost cool in san francisco at 56 degrees right now. it will warm up to 66. 78 for a high today in los angeles. the heat is pushing eastward so denver and salt lake city up around 89 to 99 degrees. in the pacific northwest, we're

looking at pretty nice temperatures. 86 degrees for a high tomorrow in seattle. not too bad for those folks. >> very nice. moderate week getting kicked off so far. now for entertainment news, the buddy cop action flick "2 guns" shot past the competition at the box office raking in more than $27 million. "the wolverine," "smurfs 2," "the conjuring" and "despicable me 2" round out the top films. still raking in millions. alex trebek is drawing outrage from fans after disqualifying the correct but misspelled answer. emancipation proclamation. didn't cost him the game but he lost $3,000. adult contestants are rarely subject to trebek's misspelled rulings. actress leah remini is writsing a tell-all and plans

to talk about her split from the church of scientology. and breakups. elle macpherson recently married her boyfriend in fiji. the superman/batman film will feature a middle aged caped crusader. contenders for those -- josh brolin, ryan gosling, joe manganiello, richard armitage, max martini and matthew good. who do you want? >> obviously, ryan gosling, just for looks alone. but i'm such a huge fan of the batman films. they're must-see for me so -- >> doesn't matter who is in there? >> exactly. >> ryan gosling seems to have it all buttoned up. but him middle aged? i'm not sure he's middle aged. this is "early today." we hope it's just your first stop of the day on nbc.

leading the news in "usa today," "dead people gave nearly $600,000 to campaigns since 2009." and it's legal under federal campaign rules. the dead can give to political parties and candidates. but donations must comply with contribution limits. and in "the washington post," in afghanistan, a second guantanamo. according to the article, a shadowy detention facility at bagram air force base is proving difficult to close. complicating the u.s. strategy for leaving afghanistan. a significant al qaeda threat keeping 19 u.s. embassies and consulates across africa and the middle east closed through saturday. while the threat is unclear, u.s. intelligence suggests it is significant. inciting murder. the cairo court said islam's

leader and his deputy will face trial for crimes during protests in the days before the overthrow of egyptian president mohamed morsi. fate in limbo. the mlb is expected to suspend yankees player alex rodriguez through 2014. but a-rod is scheduled to make his debut tonight in chicago. this weekend in california, the name wiener meant something other than everyone's favorite new york mayoral candidate. 360 wiener dogs competing in the wiener dog race. this was the 18th year of the festival and the top 16 contenders will compete in the finals in san diego next month. the top wiener runner will compete in the national wiener dog championship. dylan, it's always fun to watch the owners. >> oh, yeah. they are just calling them. probably have meet in their pockets. i just can't believe they run so fast. >> you know how fast they go? about 15 miles an hour. >> little fun fact of the day. >> time now for a look ahead and a look back.

san diego's mayor will begin an absence from his duties. he announced his plan after a series of women came afford, including staffers with accusations of sexual harassment. on august 5th, 1962, marilyn monroe was found dead in her los angeles home. here's how nbc news reported that. >> marilyn monroe lived in seclusion in her bungalow in los angeles. last night her housekeeper noticed ms. monroe still had her bedroom light on at midnight. at 3:00 a.m., ms. murray found the lights still on, door locked. no notes were found but since the actress was known to have been depressed of late, they say they are not so sure that death may have been accidental. today patrick ewing turns 51. maureen mccormick, aka marsha brady, turns 57 and loni anderson, 67. keep it right here for more news, weather and sports. i'm richard lui along with dylan dreyer.

thanks for watching "early today."

the governor has requested a seven-day board of inquiry. >> that's right. there is an 11th hour reprieve. b.a.r.t. trains will be running this morning while governor jerry brown's office decides whether both sides are negotiating in good faith. good morning. it's almost 4:31, i'm jon kelley. i'm so excited the b.a.r.t. trains are actually running out there. >> not only that, but it is his birthday as well. we'll celebrate coming up. good morning. i'm laura garcia-cannon. b.a.r.t. and union representatives leaving negotiations in oakland late last night. there's no contract in place and the governor has stepped in. just after 10:00 last night, governor jerry brown called a